Labor battle to remain positive: president

Paul Osborne, AAP Senior Political Writer

Labor national president Jenny McAllister doesn't expect the party's leadership debate to turn personal or factional, as the first ballots are cast and candidate debates are held this week.

Thousands of grassroots members of the ALP will be sent ballot papers on Tuesday to elect either Bill Shorten or Anthony Albanese as the next leader of the federal parliamentary Labor Party.

It is the first time in the party's history the leadership will be chosen by a vote weighted 50 per cent federal caucus members and 50 per cent ordinary members.

The first leaders' debate will be held in Sydney on Tuesday, followed by an event in Melbourne on Friday and an ABC Q&A program on Monday with a Perth audience.

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Ms McAllister said the ballot was generating excitement within the party.

"If you compare it to what ordinarily happens after we lose government, having such an enormous amount of energy around Labor, its future direction and its vision so soon after an election loss is an indication of how important this process may turn out to be for Labor," she told AAP on Monday.

Ms McAllister said there had been criticism from within and outside the ALP that the leadership ballot process would create disunity and damage the party.

"There's an absolute determination from the candidates that the process be only positive for Labor," she said.

"Both candidates have shown excellent leadership on that question by their deeds as well as by their words and I expect that to continue for the entire election period."

Asked whether the factions would determine the final result, Ms McAllister said members appeared to be genuinely examining the candidates for their policies and the ability to lead.

"I don't accept the idea that people will be directed (by factions) in how they vote," she said.

The grassroots ballot will close on October 9 and the caucus will vote on October 10, without knowing the other result.

The final result will be announced on October 13.

Mr Shorten, who campaigned in Canberra on Monday, said it was not a case of two identical candidates having the same policy positions.

He said he wanted to pursue three new policy areas: a science and innovation agenda, preventing domestic violence and improving dental care.

Mr Albanese, who was in Adelaide, took aim at the coalition government's plan to "trash" the national broadband network.